In Mia’s most recent column, she reflects on the number of municipal elections that wrapped up last week and discusses how, no matter the size of your business, there are definite lessons to be learned from the various political campaigns and the way they used social media.

 She shares and expands on eight key lessons:

1. Be there
2. Strategy before tactics
3. Integrate digital and traditional communications
4. Pay attention
5. Target your efforts
6. Put the social in social media
7. Spend wisely
8. Don’t abandon your networks

 Mia writes: “Over the past few years, social media has had a transformative effect on politics, journalism, marketing and advertising, and public relations. No matter what your industry is, or the size of your business, you should be eager to harness the power of social networking to broaden your reach and thoughtfully engage with your audience. Chatter is happening online about your company and clients whether you participate or not, but by following these eight rules, you can become a valuable part of that conversation.”

Check out Mia’s column every Thursday in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business.

Last week marked the 4^th season LG Electronics Canada has been title sponsor of LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oreal. LG Fashion week is a fun and fashionable week-long event run by the Fashion Design Council of Canada designed to celebrate the Canadian Fashion industry.

From October 18 to 22, LG Fashion Week took over Heritage Court on the Exhibition grounds in Toronto and transformed it into a fashionable and stylish environment. An LG Life’s Good Style Lounge, Barbie box photo booth and over 30 runway shows enticed hundreds of media, designers, sponsors, volunteers and celebrities to the runway to take in the spring 2011 collections.

High Road Communications was on-site and backstage all week supporting LG  from a PR perspective, which is no small undertaking since media are such a large important part of the week. We tweeted about the shows, hosted promotion winners and VIP media as well as organized  interviews with LG Canada’s spokesperson, Frank Lee (photographed below with actor Shane West).

 One of our favourite parts of LG Fashion Week is the all-access pass that gets us behind the scenes.  From chatting with the L’Oreal makeup artists as they touched up the models before they hit the runway to last minute fittings, we experienced all that LG Fashion Week had to offer firsthand. One of the highlights of the week was watching Pink Tartan designer Kimberly Newport-Mimran’s runway show dress rehearsal. For anyone who loves fashion like we do, it’s fantastic to be able to watch a designer like Kimberly work with the models to ensure her vision comes to life on the runway.

This season’s theme, the Style of Power, was embodied in this LG Fashion Week through the strength of the designs, the quality of the shows, and the passion and enthusiasm of the guests. Overall this season was an overwhelming success and we look forward to the next!

For over ten years, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped kids with financial need participate in organized sports and recreation. Now, in the second year of its partnership with the ProAction Hockey League, Jumpstart has equipped 128 kids aged 8-11 with hockey equipment for a full season.

High Road was onsite to help ProAction and Jumpstart kick off the ProAction Hockey League season at the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Martha Billes Hockey Clinic on October 17 in North York.

The event packed the Angela James Arena with smiling parents, players and volunteers as participants took to the ice, some for the first time in their lives. Event media relations resulted in branded and on-message coverage on CTV, CP24 and CityTV, but perhaps the greatest reward from our participation was the smiles on the faces of overjoyed children who, without the help of Jumpstart, ProAction, and Toronto Police officers who coach the league, would not have the opportunity to enjoy hockey.

The High Road event team coordinated with ProAction to produce an event schedule, manage registration, coordinate speeches, tie skates, and conduct media relations for the clinic. At the end of the day, participants and their family members left the arena with new hockey skills and knowledge,  Jumpstart jerseys, Canadian Tire Hockey School hats, coupons for free skate-sharpening,  and their coveted equipment from Canadian Tire ready to be aired out for next time.